Originally posted in the Vacaville Reporter: Mathmatica Policy Research did a study that led them to conclude “simply stated, SNAP works”. (The SNAP which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was formerly known as the food stamp program and is known as CalFresh in California). Mathmatica’s research demonstrated that because they participated in the program, children had significant improvements in their consistent access to food, also known as their “food security”.

The Mathmatica food security study surveyed 3000 families and compared the status of families newly-enrolled in the program with those who had been in the program for six or seven months. In the initial part of the study, 37% of newly-enrolled families were food insecure, while those who had been on the program six months or more were at 27%. When they checked the newly-enrolled group after six months they had seen their food insecurity decline from 37% to 25%. This type of research shows the wisdom of feeding those in need in our community.

If an individual is food insecure they cannot find enough food or purchase enough food for themselves. In a society as rich as ours, with huge agricultural surpluses, there is no reason an individual should be food insecure. More importantly, there is no reason a child should be in that position. Increases in SNAP/CalFresh that were part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) were eliminated in November of 2013. After that, Congress cut $8 billion in funding for the program over the next ten years. Because of these actions, average benefits for recipients will drop below $130 a month. I know there are some people who can make that work, but I also know from my attempts to live on the average CalFresh budget for a week, that the benefits are not enough. These budget cuts will have a negative impact on people’s ability to feed their children.

My father grew up during the Great Depression and he told me stories of receiving blocks of cheese and bags of sugar from the government. I don’t think he was ever hungry, but he lived in a house where concern about the next meal was a part of their life. He saved every scrap of leftovers until the day he died and his choices in the grocery store always were always based on price. I think we are in danger that the budget decisions that are being made are creating a generation that will be as food insecure as those who lived through the Great Depression.

It’s frustrating that we are cutting a program that provides hungry people the ability to get food. People are on the program for a short period of time (average of nine months) and research shows that the effects are positive, whether you measure improved nutrition or food security. By giving people SNAP/CalFresh benefits, we are making sure that our children receive the food they need. We are making an investment in the future of our society when we help hungry families.